Our struggle is not against flesh and blood

by David Guzik – Enduringword.com

Today I want to remind you that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, and read you from Ephesians 6, verse 12, where we read this:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Eph. 6:12 (NKJV)

The fact that our real battle is not against flesh and blood is lost on many followers of Jesus. They put all their efforts in that direction. Paul's idea here in Ephesians 6 is much the same as in 2 Corinthians 10, verses 3 and 4, where he wrote this:

“for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war, according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”
2 Cor. 10:3-4 (NKJV)

Then Paul described just whom we do battle against. He said its principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Paul used a variety of terms to refer to our spiritual adversaries. We should regard them as being on many different levels and of many different ranks, yet they all have one goal, to knock the Christian down from their place of standing.
You know, it really doesn't matter if the particular opponent we spiritually face as a principality, a power or a ruler of the darkness of this age. Collectively, they are all members of the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. They are all part of a spiritual army that's organized and established into ranks and under the headship of Satan, the devil, who comes against us with his strategies.
We learn more about these principalities and powers from some other passages in the New Testament. For example:
· Romans 8 verse 38 tells us that principalities cannot keep us from God's love. Therefore, there is a limit to their power.
· Ephesians 1 verses 20 and 21 tell us that Jesus is enthroned in heaven far above all principalities and powers.
· Colossians 1 verse 16 tells us that Jesus created principalities and powers and Colossians 2 verse 10 tells us that Jesus is head over all principality and power.
Therefore, Jesus is not the opposite of Satan or principalities. He's far greater than any of them.
· Ephesians 3 verses 10 and 11 tells us that the church makes known the wisdom of God to principalities and powers.
· 1 Corinthians 15 verse 24 tells us that principalities and powers have an end. One day, their purpose is going to be fulfilled and God will no longer let them work. Therefore, God has a purpose in allowing their work right now.
· Then finally, Colossians 2 verse 15 tells us that Jesus disarmed principalities and powers at the Cross. Therefore, our victory is rooted in what Jesus did, especially what he did for us on the cross. It's not rooted in anything that we do. Now, it isn't that there is no doing on our part, but our doing is the appropriation and the application of what Jesus already did.
Understanding our spiritual adversaries, what they can and can't do, that's an essential part of success in our struggle against them. But remember, today, that our adversaries in this struggle are not fundamentally human, but that they're spiritual and more importantly, that Jesus has defeated them.
Remember that today.

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